DARLINGTON are up to second in the table after winning a crazy game at Heritage Park which featured seven goals and four penalties.

Quakers edged it, beating Gainsborough Trinity 5-2, with Terry Galbraith scoring twice from the spot, while new signing Dave Syers netted on his debut.

It was the first time Darlington had scored five at home since April 2015, a 5-2 win over Droylsden.

Yet, today’s 5-2 scoreline flattered Quakers a little. Their play was sloppy at times, particularly during the first half of a game in which the visitors had a chance inside the first 120 seconds.

James Reid had Peter Jameson diving to his left to keep out a low drive, before a flurry of Darlington chances.

Gainsborough keeper George Willis needed two attempts to gather Mark Beck’s side-foot after a Liam Hardy lay-off on the edge of the area, and Gary Brown was just wide with a towering header after meeting a ball to the back post by Stephen Thompson.

Hardy volleyed over after meeting a Josh Gillies delivery from the right, but it was Gainsborough who took the lead on 22 minutes, Nathan Jarman making the most of a Brown mistake.

He misjudged the bounce of a ball delivered from the right, and in nipped the striker to rifle past Jameson.

The Gainsborough goal preceded a subdued spell in Darlington struggle to make ground and were guilty of some sloppy play against the mid-table opposition.

A rare shot on target for Darlington came when Thompson curled into the keeper’s hands after Gillies had ran down the left, but the half ended dramatically with two Quakers penalties.

Gillies helped Darlington win the first on 39 minutes, his delivery was handled by right-back Josh Lacey, but keeper Willis leapt to his right to deny Terry Galbraith and he blocked Thompson’s follow-up too.

However, inside 120 seconds Galbraith had another spot-kick opportunity, this time after Beck was adjudged to have tugged by Gainsborough defender, much to the chagrin of the visiting team and coaching staff.

Galbraith went the same way, Willis unable to keep out the defender’s sixth goal of the season.

Striker Ashley Worsfold had Jameson worried when he bamboozled a couple of defenders 20 yards out, shooting narrowly over, the half ending 1-1, and 50 seconds into the second half Brown atoned for his first half mistake by heading Darlington in front from a Galbraith delivery.

But ten minutes later it was all-square, referee Paul Newhouse saying Josh Falkingham had handled.

Reid blasted home from the spot for 2-2, at which point sent on Nathan Cartman and Syers, both making a contribution.

Thompson’s precise ball from the right was headed into Cartman’s path by Beck, and the substitute turned the ball home for 3-2, and then Syers won Quakers’ third penalty of the day.

An attacking midfielder who this time a year ago was in League One with Scunthorpe, Syers was chopped down by Matthew Wilson, giving Galbraith the chance to score his second penalty of the day.

He changed sides this time, and again beat Willis to score his seventh goal of the season to make it 4-2.

Darlington’s fifth goal came after a lengthy passing build-up, Beck holding the ball up for Syers to run through and finish the scoring on his debut having only been given permission to play at 11pm last night.

Goals: Jarman (22, 0-1); Galbraith pen (41, 1-1), Brown (46, 2-1); Reid pen (55, 2-2); Cartman (74, 3-2), Galbraith pen (78, 4-2), Syers (81, 5-2)

Bookings: Jarman (39, dissent); Watson (45, foul), Hardy (48, foul); Picton (90, foul)

Referee: Paul Newhouse (Peterlee)

Attendance: 1,424

Darlington (4-4-2): Jameson; Marrs, Brown, Galbraith, Watson (Burgess 46); Thompson, Falkingham (Syers 60), Turnbull, Gillies; Beck, Hardy (Cartman 56). Subs (not used): Bell (gk), Davie

Gainsborough Trinity (4-4-2): Willis; Lacey, Evans (Wilson 16), Picton, Beatson; Reid (Templeton 63), Sparrow, Wiles, Thewlis; Jartman, Worsfold. Subs (not used): Quinn, Rothery, Roma